Kernsburgh, the capital city of Dalemark, situated nearly at the center of the country. Kernsburgh was founded by King Hern and flourished for many centuries until the kingship shifted to Hannart, Canderack, and elsewhere, after which it fell into ruins. At the time of the Great Uprising it was little more than grassy humps in the ground. Amil the Great’s first act as King was to rebuild Kernsburgh, and from then on the city grew continually, to become the seat of government, center of commerce, and international metropolis it is two hundred years later.
Kestrel, the husband of Closti the Clam’s elder sister, Zara, an old man who married late in life when Zwitt refused to marry Zara after Closti had jilted Zwitt’s sister. Kestrel, it seems, did not wish to see Zara suffer through no fault of her own.
Kialan, younger son of Keril, Earl of Hannart, and later his heir.
King of the Riverlands of prehistoric Dalemark. Tanaqui never gives his name, perhaps out of respect, or perhaps because she never knew it. She clearly shows that he was not the correct man for dealing with the Heathen invasion, although he seems to have done his best at first, until his family was killed and his spirit broken.
Kinghaven, in the earldom of Loviath, the main port city of North Dalemark and otherwise notorious for brewing bad lager.
King’s Sayings, a collection of proverbs and wise thoughts memorized by all Singers and supposed to be the words of King Hern himself.
King Street, the main thoroughfare in Kernsburgh.
“The King’s Way,” a traditional song with a rousing tune which celebrates the customary journey of the new King down the green roads of North Dalemark to Kernsburgh to claim his crown. This song was banned in the South, where the earls did not wish to remind people there had once been Kings.
Kiniron, the younger brother of the King of Haligland who led the main invasion of the clans to prehistoric Dalemark, where he died of wounds from the fighting.
Kintor, Lord of Kredindale and cousin of Noreth Onesdaughter.
Knots and crosses, one of the oldest and most potent charms of binding and, of course, the basic pattern of a net. See also Nets.
Konian, the elder son of Keril, Earl of Hannart, executed in Holand in South Dalemark after a travesty of a trial.
Korib, son of the miller in Shelling and an excellent shot with the longbow.
Kredindale, a valley, town, and lordship in the extreme northwest of North Dalemark where deposits of coal were found very early in history. From the reign of the Adon, mining became the main occupation of the valley until the mines were closed in the reign of Amil III. Kredindale was the birthplace of Noreth Onesdaughter. Its name is thought to be derived from Kankredin.
La
bbard, King of Dalemark prior to the Adon, an indolent and incompetent man who openly declared that he would rather sit and drink cider than rule the country.
Ladri, one of Kankredin’s mages, whose task was to collect the souls caught in the soulnet.
Lady, the wooden image of a woman which the family of Closti the Clam kept, according to the customs of prehistoric Dalemark, in one of the niches reserved for the Undying.
Lagan, the villainous half brother of the Adon, a student of sorcery and, some legends say, a pupil of Kankredin. Lagan seems to have been consumed with jealousy both of the Adon’s status and of the Adon’s love for Manaliabrid. Having conspired to have the Adon sent into exile, Lagan then followed him, disguised himself by sorcery, and stabbed him to death. The Adon was recalled from death and later killed Lagan.
Lake, a large body of water in the center of prehistoric North Dalemark, which must have been extensive even when the River was not flooding, to judge from the petrified remains of freshwater life to be found all over the central peaks. By historic times this lake had shrunk to a row of small tarns, the largest of which is Long Tarn.
Lalla, housekeeper at Lithar’s mansion in the Holy Islands and an aspect of Libby Beer.
“Lament for the Earl of Dropwater,” an old ballad song composed during the Adon’s wars, mourning the death of Kanart, who was one of many earls who opposed the Adon.
Lathsay, one of the Holy Islands.
Lavreth, a coastal town northwest of Hannart in North Dalemark.
Lawman, a position of great power and prestige in North Dalemark. Lawmen served earls, lords, and town governors as advisers, justices, or planners for the future and in many other ways, often for very large fees. Quite a few lawmen married into the families of lords or earls. Since the law was open to everyone, however lowborn, training as a lawman was a favorite way to rise in the world.
Law of the sea was very largely unwritten but was held throughout Dalemark waters to be much more binding than the law of the land. It stated, among other things, that all ships must go to the assistance of any boat in trouble.
Lawschool at Gardale in North Dalemark, the only such school in the country until the reign of Amil the Great, very famous and much sought after. It took only those pupils who could reach a very high standard in its oral entrance exams, but a pupil could join the school at any age from nine to fifteen and then be assured of the very best education, both in law and other studies, and nobody ever failed to get a job after graduating. The Lawschool was well endowed with funds and gave quite a number of scholarships to poor students every year. Students entering the school found it a world in itself, with many strange customs and words that were not found anywhere else.
When Amil the Great founded lawschools all over the country, the status of the Gardale school diminished. In the reign of Amil III it became simply a part of Gardale University.
Law-woman, a female lawyer, had even more prestige in North Dalemark than a lawman and could command an even higher fee.
Lengday, Lawschool slang for Midsummer Day.